The Social Archeology Channel

Imagine taking the quirkiness of a David Lynch-type series and applying it to a show for kids. The result might look something like Eerie, Indiana, which aired for a single season on NBC in 1991 and followed the adventures of a boy and his best friend who, much to their dismay, live in one of the most bizarre towns imaginable. Continue reading...

So, Bazooka isn't the first bubble gum, nor even the first to include a comic strip on its wrapper. No matter, its iconic status is assured as perhaps the most popular gum ever produced. Just ask the millions of kids who ever bought a fistful of the penny candy, so they could save up a stack of Bazooka Joe comics and turn them in for a coveted prize. Continue reading...

Back in the early 80s, few bands could compete with the popularity of a rock group from Northern California called Journey. Their seemingly endless supply of hits, belted out by frontman steve Perry, filled arenas across America, endeared them to a generation of rabid fans who welcomed Journey with open arms and have yet to let go. Continue reading...

For kids who had a hunger for the occasional spooky story, the early days of Nickelodeon had something right up their alley, guaranteed to raise a few goosebumps. Debuting in 1992 as part of the SNICK lineup, Are You Afraid of the Dark gathered a group of kids in the dark and desolate woods, to weave tales of the macabre around the time-honored campfire and scare each other silly. Continue reading...

Amusing small fries for over fifty years, Mr. Potato Head has been made from a variety of materials. But whether his stout stature was comprised of Styrofoam, plastic, or even the common solanum tuberosum (that's MISTER Solanum Tuberosum to you), this master of disguise has become more than just a toy: he's a movie star, a spokespud, and an American icon. Continue reading...

All’s fair in love and thumb war. Once the battle cry of “One, two, three, four, I declare a Thumb War!” has been proclaimed and fingers have been interlaced…It’s ON. Your goal: pin your opponents thumb down for at least a second. There are no time limits, though tactics abound; you can either pin your enemy/friend right away, or hang back and let them struggle and tire themselves out before you go in for the final and sometimes brutal attack. Some legendary games have gone on for what seemed like days with the opponents waiting to seize the perfect opportunity to go in for the kill. This is thumb wrestling and it's been a traditional childhood sparring activity since time immortal (or at least a few decades). Continue reading...

From the moment he arrived on Earth, kids fell in love with an extraterrestrial appropriately named E.T. - thanks to the blockbuster 1982 Steven Spielberg film of the same name. As the most financially succesful film to date at the time, it wasn't long before our faraway friend started hawking a few products. He lent his mug to commercials for his favorite Earth snack, Reese's Pieces, and was eventually honored with his own breakfast cereal. Continue reading...

Back in the 80s, the Cold War was still a very real threat so, naturally, the whole global thermonuclear annihilation thing provided an exciting theme for an arcade game. Missile Command, released by Atari in 1980, took advantage of the perpetual U.S. vs. U.S.S.R. standoff to create a virtual world where missiles were indeed flying fast and furious and only you and your quarters could save the country. Continue reading...